Cat Stevens, also going by his Islamic name Yusuf, has delayed his much-awaited North American book tour after encountering visa issues.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame artist announced on Monday via social media that he is sorry for disappointing those fans who had previously bought tickets and arranged travel to his performances.
The tour was designed to coincide with the U.S. publication of his memoir Cat on the Road to Findout, publishing on October 7. The book came out earlier this month in the U.K., where Stevens had already presented a number of tour events. Though the tour was delayed, Stevens promised fans that the book launch will proceed as originally scheduled, joking that “books don’t need visas.”
The 76-year-old musician disclosed that his crew had waited for months for visa approvals but could not obtain them on time. “At this juncture, the production logistics required of my show cannot be arranged in a timely manner,” Stevens said. He conceded to being “really upset,” not only himself but also for his followers who were excited to listen to him perform.
The North American tour was set to start on October 2 in Philadelphia, with various stops throughout the United States throughout the month. A Canadian stop in Toronto on October 8 was also delayed for the same reasons. Stevens stated that the shows could be rescheduled if the visa situation is ultimately resolved, but he warned that any rescheduled dates would be “some time away because of other travel plans.”
Visa issues have grown more frequently interrupted global performers and athletes over the last few years. Higher charges and reduced response times have led to delays and cancellations for numerous big-name individuals. Stevens is now among those added to that list, temporarily disappointing North American fans.
The May-announced tour was intended as something greater than a publicity stunt. Stevens referred to it as a “portal” into his creative world, providing fans with both in-depth interviews about his memoir and personal acoustic performances of some of his songs. Although the U.K. tour operated successfully through September, fans in North America will now have to wait for another chance.
Stevens gained popularity during the 1960s with such hits as “Wild World” and “Father and Son.” Following his conversion to Islam in the late 1970s, he was away from popular music for twenty years, returning to secular performance in the 2000s. His most recent substantial North American tour was in 2014, when he went on a six-city concert tour.
In spite of the disappointment, Stevens concluded his announcement on an optimistic note, alluding to his classic anthem: “Hopefully, fans will be able to hop on the Peace Train route at some time in the future.”
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